[Nick Soulis]

Series #230



Pirates Soar to Glory
Wagner’s brilliance, Robinson’s dominance, and Adams’ steady hand carry Pittsburgh past 1905 Cardinals in five games



Game 1
At Forbes Field
1905 St. Louis Cardinals 0
1912 Pittsburgh Pirates 7
WP: H. Robinson (1-0) LP: K. Nichols (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Hank Robinson (9 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 101 P)
1912 Pirates Lead Series 1-0

The Field of Dreams brought the Deadball Era roaring back to life on Tuesday afternoon, and the 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates made sure the first chapter of Series #230 belonged entirely to them. Behind a masterful complete-game shutout by left-hander Hank Robinson and a dazzling four-hit performance from leadoff man Max Carey, the Pirates rolled to a 7–0 victory over the 1905 St. Louis Cardinals at Forbes Field. Robinson was the unquestioned star. The southpaw, known more for steadiness than flash, elevated his game to historic heights. Over nine innings, he yielded just two singles, walked only one, and struck out nine — silencing the Cardinals with a mix of pinpoint control and late movement. His 101-pitch outing was the definition of efficiency, and his poise never wavered as he faced just 29 batters.
“They say the first rule of the playoffs is to win the home games,” Robinson remarked afterward. “It feels nice, but it is kind of what we were supposed to do.”
The Cardinals never advanced a runner beyond second base, undone by Robinson’s consistency and their own inability to solve him. Both Malachi Grady and Kid Nichols managed hits, but the rest of the lineup was blanked.If Robinson was the hammer, Carey was the spark. The fleet-footed left fielder went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, driving in three runs, lacing a double, and stealing a base for good measure. Every time he stepped into the box, the Pirates’ offense seemed to ignite.
“Max Carey set the tone right from the leadoff spot,” manager Fred Clarke said. “When he’s getting on and moving, we’re tough to beat.”
The Pirates’ attack didn’t stop there. Dots Miller added two hits and a booming triple in the eighth, scoring twice. Mike Donlin provided two more RBI with timely base knocks, and Artie McCarthy collected three hits to round out a relentless 14-hit assault. Even Honus Wagner, though quiet by his lofty standards, chipped in with a single to keep the pressure on.For St. Louis, the afternoon was a struggle from first pitch to last. Veteran ace Kid Nichols, pitching at age 35, was battered for 13 hits and six earned runs in six innings, unable to locate against a patient, aggressive Pittsburgh lineup. Reliever Jake Thielman fared only marginally better, surrendering a run in two innings of mop-up duty. The Cardinals’ offense, meanwhile, never found its footing. They struck out nine times, walked once, and squandered their lone opportunities on the basepaths with failed steal attempts. Ed Konetchy, the team’s leader, went 0-for-4, emblematic of the club’s broader futility.
With the win, Pittsburgh seized both momentum and control, leading the best-of-seven set 1–0. More importantly, they showed a complete balance of pitching, defense, and offense that St. Louis must counter immediately to avoid falling into a quick hole.
Bob Costas put it best on Heaven’s Dugout:
“Robinson was brilliant, Carey was electric, and the Cardinals looked overmatched. If St. Louis doesn’t regroup, this could be a very short series.”
The two clubs return to Forbes Field tomorrow for Game 2, where the Cardinals will attempt to reset and rediscover their offense. For now, though, the Pirates stand tall, with Honus Wagner’s presence looming and Robinson’s gem already etched into Field of Dreams lore.

Game 2
At Forbes Field
1905 St. Louis Cardinals 8
1912 Pittsburgh Pirates 9
WP: B. Adams (1-0) LP: W. Kellum (0-1) S: H. Camnitz (1)
HR: H. Wagner (1), J. Clarke (1)
POG: Honus Wagner (3-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2B)
1912 Pirates Lead Series 2-0

In a game that swung like a pendulum from one dugout to the other, the 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates found a way to prevail. Behind the timeless brilliance of Honus Wagner and just enough grit from their supporting cast, the Pirates edged the 1905 St. Louis Cardinals, 9–8, at Forbes Field to seize a 2–0 advantage in Series #230.
The Flying Dutchman was the difference. At 38 years old, Wagner once again showed why he is considered one of the game’s greatest. He went 3-for-4 at the plate, launching a rare Deadball Era home run in the third inning, ripping a late double, and driving in three runs while also stealing a base. His every swing seemed to alter the rhythm of the game.
“I’m just looking for a good pitch that I can hit well,” Wagner said humbly afterward. “And not try to do too much.”
Yet there was nothing modest about his impact. When the Pirates needed answers, Wagner delivered them.
The turning point came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Trailing 3–2, Pittsburgh erupted for six runs against St. Louis starter Win Kellum, who had been bending but not breaking. Wagner reached base and scored, while Max Carey added a two-run single that blew the game open. By the time the dust settled, the Pirates led 8–3, and Forbes Field thundered as if the series had been won right there.
Carey’s contribution, though overshadowed by Wagner, was vital. He finished with two hits, two RBIs, and his signature speed on the basepaths. “He’s our spark,” manager Fred Clarke said. “When he gets involved, the whole club seems to come alive.”
But the Cardinals refused to fold. Malachi Grady collected four hits, Jack Clarke smashed a seventh-inning home run, and John Dunleavy roped a pair of doubles to keep St. Louis within striking distance. Entering the ninth, Pittsburgh held what seemed a safe 9–5 lead, but the Cardinals mounted a furious rally. A pair of doubles and sharp line drives trimmed the deficit to one, and the tying run stood at third when the final out was made. Babe Adams, usually the picture of control, was exhausted after 176 pitches. Manager Clarke finally summoned Howie Camnitz, who needed just one pitch to record the last out and seal the win.
The box score shows Pittsburgh in command with a 2–0 series lead, but the story on the field told of a Cardinals club that found its offense and will not go quietly. Grady and Clarke proved the lineup can hit, and Kellum, despite his struggles, kept them close until the sixth.
For the Pirates, Wagner’s revival has become the heartbeat of the series. “He doesn’t just play the game,” broadcaster Vin Scully remarked on Heaven’s Dugout. “He defines it.”

Series #230, Game 3
Venue: Robison Field – St. Louis
Weather: Clear skies, 66°F, wind blowing out to center at 9 mph
Final Score: Pittsburgh 1912 Pirates 4, St. Louis 1905 Cardinals 6
Winning Pitcher: Chappie Macfarland (1–0)
Losing Pitcher: Marty O’Toole (0–1)
Home Runs: Honus Wagner (PIT, 2)
Player of the Game: Jake Beckley (STL) – 2-for-4, 2 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Series: Pittsburgh leads 2–1

The 1905 St. Louis Cardinals finally gave their home crowd something to cheer about at Robison Field, pulling out a gritty 6–4 win over the 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 3 of Series #230.
Veteran first baseman Jake Beckley was the difference maker, pounding out two triples, driving in two runs, and scoring twice. His timely sixth-inning blast into the gap turned a tense 4–3 Pittsburgh lead into a St. Louis advantage they would not relinquish. The performance earned him Player of the Game honors and breathed life into a Cardinals club desperate to avoid a 3–0 hole.
“It’s a huge change in atmosphere versus last game,” Beckley said afterward. “I feel like we’re back in the mix now. We just can’t let up.”
Center fielder Homer Smoot drove in two runs, including the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth that swung momentum firmly to St. Louis. Catcher Malachi Grady added three walks, a stolen base, and an RBI, frustrating Pirates starter Marty O’Toole all afternoon. O’Toole had electric stuff at times but was undone by control problems, issuing an astonishing 11 walks over seven innings — a new Field of Dreams playoff record. For Pittsburgh, Honus Wagner continued his strong series with a two-run homer in the first inning, his second long ball of the matchup. Outfielder Owen Wilson chipped in with a two-run triple in the fifth to give the Pirates a brief 4–2 lead. But aside from those flashes, the Pirates’ bats were mostly contained by Chappie Macfarland, who went the distance for St. Louis, scattering nine hits in a complete-game victory.
The Cardinals now trail 2–1, but with momentum shifting in their favor and the home crowd behind them, the complexion of this series feels suddenly different. Pittsburgh still holds the upper hand, yet St. Louis has shown it won’t bow quietly.

Series #230, Game 4
Robison Field – St. Louis
Weather: Clear skies, 62°F, wind blowing out to right at 11 mph
Final Score: Pittsburgh 1912 Pirates 5, St. Louis 1905 Cardinals 1
Winning Pitcher: Hank Robinson (2–0)
Losing Pitcher: Kid Nichols (0–2)
Home Runs: Malachi Grady (STL, 1)
Player of the Game: Hank Robinson (9.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 K)
Pittsburgh leads 3–1

With the chance to seize firm control of Series #230, the 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates once again turned to left-hander Hank Robinson, and he delivered. Just as he had in Game 1, Robinson baffled the 1905 St. Louis Cardinals, tossing a complete game in Pittsburgh’s 5–1 victory at Robison Field.
The win gives the Pirates a commanding 3–1 series lead, placing them one step away from advancing.
Robinson was locked in from the first pitch, scattering seven hits over nine innings while striking out seven. The only blemish came in the sixth inning when catcher Malachi Grady launched a solo home run to left. Other than that, the Cardinals were muted, stranding eight runners on base and failing to mount sustained threats.
“He’s been unbelievable,” said Pirates manager Fred Clarke. “Every time he takes the mound, he gives us confidence. The boys feed off that.”
The Pirates offense wasted no time setting the tone. In the top of the first, Honus Wagner tripled in a run, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Robinson himself. In the second, Dots Miller doubled and came home on George Gibson’s RBI double, pushing the lead to 3–0.
Wagner added an RBI in the fifth with a sharp single, and Pittsburgh tacked on two insurance runs in the ninth behind hits from Gibson and McCarthy. In total, the Pirates racked up 11 hits, with Miller, Gibson, and Wilson leading the way.For the Cardinals, it was another frustrating night. Kid Nichols pitched a complete game but couldn’t match Robinson, yielding five runs on 11 hits. Aside from Grady’s homer and a two-hit night from Homer Smoot, the offense looked lifeless. Even red-hot Jake Beckley went 0-for-4. “Give the Pirates credit,” said losing manager Kid Nichols. “They played a better game than we did.”
With the series now 3–1, Pittsburgh has the chance to clinch tomorrow in Game 5. The Pirates have shown balance, power, and most importantly, a dominant ace in Robinson. The Cardinals must win three straight to survive.

Series #230, Game 5
Robison Field – St. Louis
Weather: Partly cloudy, 56°F, wind blowing in from center at 11 mph
Final Score: Pittsburgh 1912 Pirates 15, St. Louis 1905 Cardinals 2
Winning Pitcher: Babe Adams (2–0)
Losing Pitcher: Win Kellum (0–2)
Home Runs: None
Player of the Game: Honus Wagner (PIT) – 3-for-6, 3B, 2B, 5 RBI, 3 R

The 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates left no doubt in Game 5, unleashing a relentless 19-hit attack and steamrolling the 1905 St. Louis Cardinals, 15–2, at Robison Field to clinch their first Field of Dreams title. The Pirates broke the game open early, plating six runs in the second inning and never looking back. Honus Wagner delivered the decisive blow, a bases-loaded triple that silenced the St. Louis crowd and effectively ended Win Kellum’s night.
Wagner wasn’t done. He finished 3-for-6 with five RBIs and three runs scored, adding a double and continuing a series that will be remembered as one of the finest individual performances in Field of Dreams history.Around him, the lineup contributed from top to bottom: Max Carey went 4-for-5 and scored three times, Dots Miller drove in three runs, and Owen Wilson had two hits, including a double and triple, with three RBIs of his own.
On the mound, Babe Adams was steady and efficient, scattering 11 hits but yielding only two runs in a complete game effort. He walked two and struck out two, trusting his defense as the Pirates turned two double plays to keep the Cardinals at bay.
“It was a team win,” manager Fred Clarke said. “Hitting, pitching, fielding — but most importantly, belief. This group played for each other, and that’s what made the difference.”The Cardinals simply had no answer. Kellum was shelled for six runs in less than two innings, and relievers Jake Thielman and Will Egan could not contain the flood. Malachi Grady and Homer Smoot each had two hits, but there were no timely blows to match Pittsburgh’s relentless scoring.
Manager Kid Nichols of St. Louis summed it up bluntly: “Give the Pirates credit. They were better than us in every way.”
With the victory, the Pirates claimed the series 4–1, riding the arms of Robinson and Adams and the bat of Wagner. In five games, Pittsburgh outscored St. Louis 40–17 and looked every bit like champions destined for Field of Dreams lore.

1912 Pittsburgh Pirates Win Series 4 Games To 1

Series MVP:

(.429, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 6 R, 2 2B, 2 3B, 1 SB, 1.000 SLG)